Science lesson plan · 9th grade (Year 10 in England) · 60 minutes
Work out enzyme reaction rates from experimental data
Cells, genetics and evolution
CCSS NGSS.HS-LS1-6CCSS NGSS.SEP 5England: GCSE Combined Science: Organisation (required practical: enzymes)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Work out enzyme reaction rates from experimental data.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: How enzymes work: active sites, temperature and pH
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: Microscope images or slides, Cell diagrams, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 6 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (How enzymes work: active sites, temperature and pH). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Pepsin works best at pH 2. Where in the body does it work? (the small intestine / the mouth / the blood / the stomach) → the stomachPrompt: Which part of the gut is very acidic?
- Enzymes: which statement is NOT true? (Enzymes are biological catalysts. / All enzymes work best at pH 7. / Enzymes are proteins. / Enzymes are not used up in the reactions they speed up.) → All enzymes work best at pH 7.Prompt: Is the effect of cold permanent?
- A human enzyme has an optimum temperature of about 37 °C. What is the enzyme most likely to be doing at 5 °C? (working slowly, but not denatured / working at or near its fastest rate / denatured and no longer working) → working slowly, but not denaturedPrompt: Cold slows molecules down; it does not change the active site's shape.
Hook · 6 min
- Show a microscope image of cells and ask what students think they are looking at.
- Share the objective: Work out enzyme reaction rates from experimental data. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 12 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Catalase in liver broke down hydrogen peroxide and released 10 cm³ of oxygen in 20 s. What was the mean rate of reaction, in cm³/s?
- Step 1: 10 ÷ 20 = 0.5
- Step 2: So the answer is: 0.5 cm³/s
- Answer: 0.5 cm³/s
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 12 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Catalase in liver broke down hydrogen peroxide and released 32 cm³ of oxygen in 40 s. What was the mean rate of reaction, in cm³/s? → 0.8 cm³/sPrompt: rate = amount of product ÷ time
- Amylase took 100 s to digest all the starch at pH 7. Calculate the rate using rate = 1000 ÷ time, in s⁻¹. → 10 s⁻¹Prompt: Substitute the time into the formula.
You do: independent practice · 17 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 7 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Amylase took 20 s to digest all the starch at pH 7. Calculate the rate using rate = 1000 ÷ time, in s⁻¹. → 50 s⁻¹Prompt: Substitute the time into the formula.
- Catalase in liver broke down hydrogen peroxide and released 24 cm³ of oxygen in 40 s. What was the mean rate of reaction, in cm³/s? → 0.6 cm³/sPrompt: rate = amount of product ÷ time
Watch out for
- Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
- Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: How enzymes work: active sites, temperature and pH.
- Use concrete materials: microscope images or slides.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-9.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder